Abstract
The main body of rational-choice literature aims to deduce the necessary consequences that result from the interaction of rational agents. In contrast, this paper shows how small accidents of history can determine the character of social life among even perfectly rational decision makers. The paper describes those circumstances in which the structure of interaction is determinant, so that random events are averaged away, and those circumstances in which chance events leave a permanent mark on the collective life of rational beings.
Keywords
Rational choice theory (criminology)Contrast (vision)Rational agentCharacter (mathematics)Rational planning modelPositive economicsRational expectationsRationalityRational analysisEconomicsMathematical economicsSociologyEpistemologyNeoclassical economicsPsychologyEconometricsComputer scienceMathematicsPhilosophyCriminologyManagementArtificial intelligence
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1997
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 189-213
- Citations
- 10
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Greg Hill
(1997).
HISTORY, NECESSITY, AND RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY.
Rationality and Society
, 9
(2)
, 189-213.
https://doi.org/10.1177/104346397009002003
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1177/104346397009002003